A process for calculating run-and-level representations of quantized transform coefficients includes packing each quantized transform coefficients in a value interval (Max, Min) by setting all quantized transform coefficients greater than Max equal to Max, and all quantized transform coefficients less than Min equal to Min; reordering the quantized transform coefficients resulting in an array C of reordered quantized transform coefficients; masking C by generating an array M containing ones in positions corresponding to positions of C having non-zero values, and zeros in positions corresponding to positions of C having zero values; and for each position containing a one in M, generating a run and a level representation by setting the level value equal to an occurring value in a corresponding position C, and setting the run value equal to the number of proceeding positions relative to a current position in M since a previous occurrence of one in M.